Shelby Clydesdale, Brittney Savard and Shay-Lee McConnell spent last weekend gaining a new perspective on rep hockey at the bantam level as they participated in the U-16 BC Cup in the Cowichan Valley.
The Alberni Valley trio played for Vancouver Island in a pool against teams from the North and Kootenay. The other pool contained two Lower Mainland teams and Okanagan.
The Island U-16 girls won their game against Kootenay, lost against the North, and ended up having to play the North again on Saturday morning. They lost in a very close game, a team spokesperson said, which vaulted them into playing for fifth and sixth against Okanagan on Sunday.
The Island girls came from behind to beat Okanagan 6-3 and finish in fifth place in B.C.
It was an exciting weekend for both the girls and their families, the team spokesperson said. “It was nice to see so much support from Port Alberni for the three girls who attended. There were numerous family members and friends who made the trip to see the girls play against the finest female bantam players in B.C.
McConnell, Savard and Clydesdale should be very proud of this accomplishment, and now have a better idea of what is required to compete in a high-performance competition.
Clydesdale and Savard have hopes of attending the U-18 camp next season and McConnell expects to be at the U-16 competition again.
ICE CHIPS...The team forwards a special thank you to Port Alberni Fraternal Order of Eagles, Alberni Valley Rotary Club and Alberni Valley Minor Hockey for their support.